We have a deployment solution (and are according licensing) for pushing updates of certain applications, including Adobe Reader to our desktop farm. This solution uses product codes to identify changes between the currently installed version and new versions being shipped.

This has worked pretty well in the past, but it seems like the product code for Reader X and Reader 10.0.1 are the same. Based on the Microsoft guide lines for Product Codes, it seems like a point release with significant security updates should qualify for a new product code. Is this us doing it wrong, or was there a deliberate decision to not update the product code for this release?

Yes, you are right. Product codes for Adobe Reader X and Adobe Reader 10.0.1 are same .

As far as my understanding is ,Adobe only changes product codes for reader when they release full reader installer. 10.0.1 is only a patch. The "exe" which they have posted is just a bootstrapper which includes original MSI and the latest patch. It is not a new MSI.

It's a bit of a pain that we can't make use of product codes for point version evaluations (especially since the Microsoft guide lines for MSI updates seem pretty clear that we should be able to). Is there a better solution for evaluating the currently installed version and if it's different to the version we're looking to deploy in situations like this?

2. You can also see "Version" /"Display Version" entry in [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{AC76BA86-1033-F4 00-7760-000000000005 or the product code for Reader}].

Version Entry reads : a000001 which stands for 10.0.1 in decimal and display version directly reads 10.0.1.